Battery container



Sept. 28, 1937. J sc c Q 2,094,329

BATTERY CONTAINER Filed Nov. 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.JOSEPHJMASCUCH.

ATTORNEY Sept. 28, 1937.

, .1. J. MASCUCH 2,094,329

7 BATTERY CONTAINER Filed NOV. 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.JOSEPHJ]. HA5 C UCH.

A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1937 i I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBATTERY comma Joseph J. Mascuch, Newark, N. 1. Application November 21,1933, Serial No. 698,995

1 Claim. (01. 136-166) This invention relates toa battery container acontainer which will yieldingly hold the bator case. tery in positionand prevent damage to the bat- In aircraft practice the storage batteryon the tery by reason of relative movement inside the airplane is notalways maintained in an upright container.

5 position. During the flight of an airplane the The invention hereinisdescribed in connection 5 battery may be tilted from side to side oreven with its use in airplanes, for which it is particucompletelyinverted as when the plane is turned larly adapted, but it will beobvious that this batover in a loop or back dive. Under these conditerycontainer may be used with any storage battions the acid solution in'the battery is spilled,- tery on any structure.

' resulting in damage to the adjacent elements The invention consists ofthe construction, 10

which the acid may contact. Therefore, one ob- .combination andarrangement of parts as herein ject of this invention is to provide acompletely illustrated, described and claimed. enclosed batterycontainer which will prevent In the accompanying drawings, forming partspilling of acid from the battery on the adjacent hereof, is illustratedone form of embodiment of parts of an airplane. A further object of thisinthe invention, in which drawings similar referl5 vention is to providea container or case for the ence characters designate correspondingparts, battery which will not be affected by acid spilled and in which:

- from the battery. Figure 1 is a top plan view of the battery caseMany'accident's have occurred by reason of with a portion of theconducting cables; explosions of batteries. The constant shaking ofFigure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken 20 the battery producesgases, which, if not released, away;

may'cause an explosion. Therefore, a further. Figure 3 is a verticalsection on line 3-3 of object of the invention is to provide an airtightFigure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the container having avent therein to permit the arrows, the battery being shown in outline;

release of gases but to prevent the releases of acid Figure 4 is a planview of a modified form of 25 and to prevent the admission of -water orother container; foreign matter into the container. Figure 5 is an endelevation, partly in section,

Where a connection becomes loose or partially of the structure shown inFigure 4; and worn improper electrical emanations may be re- Figure 6 isa side elevation, partly in section,

leased, which affect radio equipment on the airof'the structure shown inFigure 4. 3o plane. Therefore, a further, specific object of Referringto the drawings, A designates a batthis invention is to provide agrounded, contery having the usual binding post connection B ductivehousing to entirely surround the battery and inspection-opening cap C. 4designates the and which will absorb and ground any electrical containeror case generally. The case 4 comemanations improperly released from thebatprises an open-ended metal shell or housing 5, 35 tery, and whichwill also absorb and ground any which may be made of a single 'piece ormay be impulses coming from the outside which might made of sheetsbrazed or otherwise connected toadversely afiect the battery. gether.Various metals may be used for the hous- In view of the dangerof'spilling it is customing 5 but aluminum or stainless steel is prefer-40' ary to place the battery in an upright position. able. The upperedge of the housing 5 is turned 40 To do this often necessitates placingthe battery over as shown at 6 to form a seat to receive a in such alocation that it is necessary to entirely closure hereinafter described.On the outside remove the battery and container from the airand insideof the housing 5 is disposed a coverplane to inspect or service thebattery. Therefore, ing of rubber or other acid-resistant compound afurther object of this invention is to provide a l. The rubber coveringI may be applied by 45 battery container which may be connected indipping the housing 5; it may be applied in thin any position on-theairplane so that the battery sheets and vulcanized; it may be applied bymay be inspected or serviced without removing it spraying in liquid formor the covering 1 may be from the airplane. applied in any otherdesirable manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide Secured at the base ofthe container 4, before- 50 a container so constructed that the batterycables the covering 1 is'applied thereto, is a plurality of may bereadily withdrawn from-the container angleirons 8, which may be weldedor otherwise and the battery removed therefrom without resuitablyaflixed to the container 4. The angle moving the container from theairplane; irons 8 are provided with openings 8 through A further objectof the invention isto provide which may be disposed bolts or otherfastening 55 means to hold the container 4 in position on any desiredportion of the airplane. On each end of.

the container t at a point below the top thereof is disposeda hollowboss I having a central opening H. The bosses H), which are appliedbefore the rubber covering 1, may be secured to the container by weldingor any other suitable means.

On one side of the container 4 are disposed a plurality ofscrew-threaded outlets I2 to permit the passage of an insulatedconductor or cable conduit i is disposed a ferrule It provided with anannular flange ll. Around the cable l3 and adjacent the flange I1 is ametal washer l8.

- Around thecable l3 and adjacent the washer it is a flangedsponge-rubber packing l9. A collar nutv ZUhaving a central openingZED-11. therein is disposed over the conduit and the ferrule 52. The nutbears against the flange H which in turn bears against the washer is.The packing 89 is compressed and forced into the outlet 52. When the nut20' is tightened, the packing it, being compressed, holds the conductorl3 tightly in place and at the same time makes a fluid-tight seal sothat no acidcan escape through the outlet l 2. The flange on the packingis is gripped between the end of the outlet l2 and the washer it toprevent the packing I 9 being forced entirely through the outlet E2. Theinner end of the packing I9 may be tapered to assist in entering thepacking l 9 in the-outlet l2.

At the same time a continuous electrical bond is made from the metal 5through the outlet l2, the nut 20,-the ferrule I5 and the conduit l5,

which conduit i5 is grounded to another portion of the airplane so thata completely grounded electrical shield is provided for the battery. Thebolts disposed through theopenings 9 at the base of the containerserveas an additional ground since they are in contact with the angle irons 8which contact the metal 5 of the container t.

With this construction, when the nut 20 is removed it is possible towithdraw the conductor l2 and the connection it entirely from thecontainer 6 so that the battery A may be removed therefrom withoutdimculty. It should be noted that on some large types of batteries thebinding post B may not be opposite the outlets 02. In this event, thebattery is placed in the container with the binding post on the oppositeside from the outlets l2 and a longer cable is used so that the cable itmay be bent within the container 5 to fit the binding post B. With thisconstruction only two or three standard sizes of containers 5 arenecessary to accommodate any known type of storage battery.

To hold the battery A in position a plurality of sponge-rubber blocks 26may be disposed in the Hue indicia 23 may be cut in the outer covering 7"I or otherwise suitably shown on the container 4 to indicate thepositive and negative poles of 4 the battery A.

Disposed over the container 4 is a cover or closure designated generallyas 25. The cover 26 comprises a sheet of metal 25 similar to the metal 5of the container 5. Dependent flanges 26 are provided on the side andends of the sheet 25. On the ends of the sheet 25 are disposedre-inforced extensions 21 which may be secured to the sheet 25 and theflanges 26 by welding or other suitable means." A covering of rubber orother acid-resistant compound 28 is disposed on the inside and outsideof the sheet 25, the flanges 26 and the extensions 21. The rubbercovering 28 may be applied in like manner as the covering 7 of thecontainer 5.

In each extensionzl is an opening 29 through which is disposed athreaded rod 30. The rod 30 is provided on its lower end with an angularextension 39 which may be formed by merely bending the rod 30 uponitself. The extension 311 is adapted to be entered in the opening H inthe boss l0. Carried on the threaded upper end of the rod 30 is awing-nut 32 and the rod til is provided with a head 33 to prevent theremoval of the nut 32. When it is desired to apply the cover it to thecontainer t the nuts 32 are loos ened permitting free movement of therod til in the opening 29. The extensions St on the rod 30 are enteredin the openings ll of the bosses l0 and the nuts 32 tightened, whichdraws the rod 30 upward, thus securely fastening the cover 24 to thecontainer t. On the inside of the cover 26 adjacent the edge thereof isdisposed a continuous rubber gasket 33 adapted to lie between the upperedge of the container ll and the under side of the coverv 26 so thatwhen the cover it is tightened down on the container 5 an air-tight andliquid-tight closure is efiected.

When it is desired to remove the cover 2 3 the nuts 32 are loosened,permitting the removal of the extensions SE of the rod 39 from theopenings it so that the cover is free to be lifted. The angle of theextensions 39 on the rod 39 is such that the rod 39 cannot be withdrawnthrough the openings 29 in the extension 2?. At the same time the head33 prevents the removal of the nut 32. Therefore, when the cover 2d isremoved neither the rod 38 nor the nut 32. can

be lost by being separated from the cover 26.

In the cover it is an opening 3% through which is disposed a. threadedvent 35 having a bore 35. The vent 35 is provided with a shoulder illadapted to rest on the covering 23 on the outside of the cover 2 Thevent 35 is held in place by a nut 33% applied from the inside of thecover 2 2. The top of the vent 35 is provided with a head 3%. adapted toreceive a soft rubber nipple or valve it which is provided with aninternal flange 56 adapted to engage around the vent 35 under the head3%. The nipple ilt is provided with a slit 52 to permit the passage ofgases from within the cover 2 to the outside. However, the nipple atwill not permit water or any other matter to enter the cover from theoutside. At the same time, the acid solution of the hattery in the eventthere is lealrage, cannot pass through the bore 36 or the opening in theevent the battery A was completely inverted there was leakage of theacid solution the level of such would be below ti"- oi the bore in theinverted position, so t no leakage would be possible. In any ev therecould be no leakage through the opening. unless there I was pressurefrom within as in the case when gases are permitted to escape.

It often occurs that the battery is placed in such a position in theairplane that the conductor l3 will be led to the' battery from a pointbelow the container 4. In this event it is necessary to have a sharpbend in the conductor I3, in order to enter the outlet l2. It is notdesirable to have a sharp bend in the conductor l3 at any point and inthe case of heavy conductors it is impossible to bend the conductor at asharp angle.

The construction shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, therefore, is providedfor use where the conductor I3 is led to the container 4 from a pointbelow the container 4. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the container 4 isprovided with a lateral extension 44, the bottom 45 of which is set atan angle to the base of the container 4. The outlets H are secured tothe bottom 45 so that it is not necessary for the conductor I3 or thehousing l5 to describe a sharp bend to enter the casing 4 through theoutlet l2.

When this construction is used the binding post B of the battery A isplaced on the opposite side of the container 4 from the extension 44. Inthis way the conductor I3 is led through the outlet l2 and curved overthe battery A so that the connection [4 may be secured to the bindingpost 13. When it is desired to remove the battery the connection l4 andthe nut 26 are removed and the cable l3 may be entirely withdrawn fromthe casing, as heretofore described.

When the construction shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 is used, it is notnecessary to use the blocks 2| to hold the battery in place. In order tosecure the battery A against movement within the container 4, a threadedrod 46 is secured to the casing 4 by means of rivets or other suitablemeans 41. A sleeve 46 is movably carried on the rod 46 and is providedwith a projecting finger 49 adapted to extend over the top of thebattery A. A wing nut 50 is provided so that the finger 49 of the sleeve48 may be tightened against the battery A, thus holding it securely inposition. A head 5| is formed on the rod 46 after the sleeve 48 and thenut 56 have been applied, so that the nut 50 cannot be accidentallyremoved and lost from the rod 46.

When it is desired to remove the battery A from the container 4, the nut50 is loosened and the sleeve 48 rotated on the rod 46 suiiicient toremove the flnger 49 from the path of movement of the battery A. Thebattery A is then free to be lifted from the casing 4. A plurality ofholding means as described may be used so as to provide several pointsof contact to insure that the battery is held in position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an acidproof container isprovided for the battery so that leakage from the battery will notaffect the surrounding parts. It should also be noted that the rod 36makes electrical contact with the metal 25 of the cover 24 in passingthrough the opening 29, and this contact is continued by the extension3| and the boss l0, so that the container is completely shielded. It ispointed out that where the rubber coverings I or 26 are applied bydipping, the openings 9, II, and 29 and the threads on the outlet I 2are thereafter cleaned so that the various metal portions constitutingthe continuous electrical conductor will make good contact.

It will be seen further that the container 4 and the battery A need notbe applied to the airplane in a normal upright position, since noleakage of the acid from the container 4 is possible, regardless of theposition of the battery A, and the container itself is impervious to'the action of the acid. At the sametime the blocks 2|, or the finger 49in the modified form, will maintain the battery in position regardlessof vibration or jolts.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A radio shielded battery container comprising a metal casing covered onthe inside and outside with an acid resistant coating, a metal cover toclose the container coated on both sides with an acid resistantcovering, means to ground the cover to the casing, means to ground thecasing to a vehicle, means disposed wholly within the casing to preventmovement of a battery, outlets formed on the casing to permit thepassage of conductors and to receive the end of a flexible conduitsurrounding a conductor and means to form a liquid tight connection atthe outlets comprising a flanged, compressible packing insertable in theoutlet, a rigid packing adjacent the compressible packing and a couplingnut to seal the flange of the compressible packing between the rigidpacking and the edge of the outlet.

JOSEPH J. MASCUCH.

